When you lose mobility, everything in life is harder because you can’t move as well and as a result, everything in life is harder than it used to be. After I had hip replacement surgery, I lost a significant amount of mobility that has not yet returned and I struggle with things that I didn’t struggle with when I had mobility. I have found new ways to do tasks because I have had no choice but even though I can make something possible it’s still not the same experience. There are a lot of things that I used to enjoy that I no longer do because my mobility loss makes it too hard, and I have no desire to do them. I have been living with mobility loss for about five years and don’t even remember what it’s like to have mobility but I would assume that it’s probably pretty great. Mobility loss is frustrating but you do learn ways to adapt your life and find joy in different types of activities. What things are not the same when you lose mobility? In this post, I am going to share a few things that are harder when you lose mobility and not the same experience.
Walks on the beach– Since having hip replacement surgery, I have gone to the beach because my parents have a beach condo, and a lot of the time I have to. I have never been a big beach person which is funny because I live in Florida and beaches are everywhere so you’d think I’d love it, but I have not physically been on the beach since I had mobility. Walking on the beach has never been easy for me because the sand adds more resistance making it more difficult to walk but as a child I still did it. Now you couldn’t pay me to walk on the beach because I am not very stable without resistance and adding resistance makes walking ten times harder than it has to be and I have no desire to do it. I would rather sit at the pool by myself while the rest of my family is on the beach because I don’t have to worry about falling as much and it’s just easier. It might be physically possible for me to walk on the beach but the struggle it would take to do it is just not worth it. Walks on the beach increase my risk of falling because I am not usually wearing my leg braces that help support me and I don’t feel confident that I can do it successfully. It would be different if I was able to sit down there all day but I would not be able to do that because I would have to walk up every couple of hours to pee and it would be way too much work.
Pilates workout– As a disabled person, I have never been able to get into Yoga because a lot of the moves require you to get in positions that are impossible with my disability, and have always found Pilates more accessible. Pilates used to give me so much joy but now it brings me no enjoyment because a lot of the moves require you to use your legs which might be possible but is not the same experience. It takes all the energy I have to lift my leg two inches off the ground and doing a workout where you use your legs a lot is not as enjoyable. When I do a Pilates workout it makes me a little sad because it reminds me of all the things I used to be able to do well but no longer can. I know I could probably get better at Pilates if I did regularly, but it requires so much effort that I have found easier ways to strengthen my legs. I don’t do a lot of core-focused because of endometriosis but even if I didn’t have this condition, I don’t think I would have a desire to get back into Pilates until I had mobility because my form feels off and it doesn’t feel safe.
Walking in general– When you lose mobility, walking in general is harder because you have to put in more effort to take a few steps to accommodate your mobility loss. I remember the days when I was able to do my version of running, which is basically like skipping, but now that I limp when I walk and can’t move as fast, it would be very risky to attempt any kind of fast-paced movement. I do walking workouts every day, but it is not the same experience because it requires more effort, and I only do it to improve my mobility, but it’s hard and doesn’t bring me as much joy. When I had hip replacement surgery, the way I walked changed because my hip was now in the right position, and I had to learn a new way to walk that I was not used to. Walking has become easier over time but it’s still not the same experience, and I can’t walk as long, which is frustrating because I know I should be able to do more.
My strength training routine is more difficult– When it comes to weightlifting, you wouldn’t think that mobility loss in my leg would affect my strength training but it does. I don’t use my legs as much in strength training workouts as I would a Pilates workout, but my legs are still involved. It is harder to strength train because a lot of the positions I used to get into to challenge myself are no longer possible, and if they are, my form is sloppy and not as beneficial. I love the benefits that strength training gives me, but I don’t enjoy it as much and get frustrated a lot because I know I should be able to advance a lot of the movements, but my mobility loss is preventing me from doing so. Strength training helps make my life easier because I use my arms for everything I do, but it’s not the same experience, and I have to get creative to accommodate my mobility loss.
Navigating obstacles is more frustrating- We live in an accessible world and that is nothing new to me but because I have always had the privilege of being able to walk I’ve always been able to find a way to navigate obstacles. Since losing mobility, navigating inaccessibility is more difficult and gives me a lot more anxiety because I can’t navigate small spaces as easily since I can’t lift my leg up as high and sometimes, I can’t navigate a space. Hip replacement has made me more aware of how inaccessible the world is because I struggle more when something is not accessible. I have noticed that because of my mobility loss, I don’t have as much desire to do things and if it’s not accessible I am doing it unless absolutely necessary.
When you lose mobility, everything in life is harder and sometimes, you have to stop doing activities because you can’t do them as easily as you once could. I can’t change my mobility loss, and the only thing that I can do that is within my control is to exercise often and hope it one day returns. Mobility loss is frustrating and takes a lot of things from you, but you do find new activities that you can enjoy with your mobility loss. I don’t get a lot of enjoyment from a Pilates workout, but I can swim just as well as I could when I had mobility, and the only thing is I have to be able to motivate myself to put on the bathing suit because dressing myself is more difficult. If you lose mobility, it is okay to feel frustrated and grieve the life you once had, and I think everyone with pain wishes they could have their old life back. I think it can be helpful to accept your mobility loss, but you don’t have to pretend you love everything about it because some struggles are annoying. If you lost mobility, what activities are not the same for you? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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